Please send your sightings to Jim Dickson (Argyll Bird Recorder) to:
Posts on this page are for scarce & rare sightings. Descriptions will be required for species listed by the Argyll, Scottish & British rare bird committees prior to their acceptance. Rare bird forms are available from Jim.
The Argyll Bird Club has a Facebook group if you wish to post your own sightings and photographs for all other reports. In addition, please submit any relevant records to BTO BirdTrack or the Argyll bird recording system. Contact Malcolm Chattwood email:
The 2023 ARGYLL BIRD REPORT Volume 35 with Systematic List for 2023 is now published as a PDF – (available to ABC members only by an emailed link)
2024 Spring Migrants Table: SPRING MIGRANTS 2024 to 1 July
Recent Reports of Scarce & Rare Sightings 2024
21st September
TIREE: A YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER new in at Balephuil today (John Bowler). A LITTLE STINT was at Gott Bay (Keith Gillon) and one AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER is still present.
ISLAY: Two GREAT WHITE EGRETS at RSPB Loch Gruinart from the hides this morning (Linden Kingston).
MID-ARGYLL: A GREAT WHITE EGRET was seen at Blackmill Bay, Isle of Luing today (Rob Lightfoot).
20th September
TIREE: A TURTLE DOVE (found by Nick Wall) moved from Balephuil beach car park to the shore edge of Loch a’ Phuill (near the pumping station) by midday but very mobile (per John Bowler). A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was found at Ruaig around 7.30pm – a just reward for Keith Gillon’s searches on Tiree over the last week.
ISLAY: Clive McKay had an amazing encounter with a flock of 13 GREAT WHITE EGRETS as they flew NW between Ardnave Point and Nave Island – likely a Scottish record number seen together!
18th September
TIREE: A 1cy BARRED WARBLER was found at Balephuil mid-morning but has been elusive (John Bowler).
14th September
TIREE: Sea-watch off Hynish 12.15-1315hrs today in S7 with bands of light rain / dreich. Highlights: 3 LEACH’S PETREL, 2 GREY PHALAROPE, 6 SOOTY SHEARWATER, 1 imm POMARINE SKUA, 3 ARCTIC TERNS (John Bowler). Also 1 adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER at Kilmoluaig yesterday per Keith Gillon (presume 1 of the 2 birds from Middleton/Sandaig) and 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT still at Balephuil today (John Bowler).
ISLAY: The SHORT-TOED LARK is still at Cornabus today.
MID-ARGYLL: A first-winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL at the Head of Loch Gilp late morning (Jim Dickson).
13th September
ISLAY: The SHORT-TOED LARK is still at Cornabus today (Ed Burrell) and a juvenile ICELAND GULL was at Saligo this morning (James How) .
12th September
TIREE: One adult/2cy AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER now at Middleton today and a LESSER WHITETHROAT at Balephuil (John Bowler).
ISLAY: The SHORT-TOED LARK is still at Cornabus and showing well.
11th September
ISLAY: A SHORT-TOED LARK was found at Cornabus yesterday and identified today (Ed Burrell). Only the fourth for Argyll and a new species for Islay if accepted by the SBRC.
10th September
KINTYRE: A GREY PHALAROPE was seen close in at Machrihanish Bay (Jo Goudie, David Millward).
TIREE: A seawatch from Hynish for 1 hour from 06.30 hrs produced – 28,350 Manx Shearwaters west off Aird in 1hr from 06.30am today – also 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 5 Great Skuas and 3 Arctic Terns (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: A record Argyll count of 14 LITTLE EGRETS were together at Kennacraig.
9th September
TIREE: Two 2cy/female AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER at Middleton today. Also a LESSER WHITETHROAT at The Manse, Scarinish (John Bowler).
4th September
MULL: The adult BONAPARTE’S GULL is now at Craignure (per Birdguides).
TIREE: A PIED FLYCATCHER in the garden at Balephuil today (John Bowler).
3rd September
ISLAY: A RED KITE was seen between Port Charlotte and Portnahaven (IslayBirdBlog). Now 4 juvenile LITTLE STINT at Carnain early morning (Jim Dickson).
2nd September
TIREE: A sewatch at Hynish produced 2 GREAT SHEARWATERS & 12 SOOTY SHEARWATERS (John Bowler).
MULL: An adult BONAPARTE’S GULL was found on the shore at Garmony – presumably a returning bird seen on Mull the previous two years (Theo de Clermont).
ISLAY: Two juvenile LITTLE STINT were in with the calidrid wader flock at Carnain around 7pm (Jim Dickson)
30th August
OFF COLL/TIREE: In with the large congregation of MANX SHEARWATERS SW of Gunna Sound this morning were 33 GREAT SHEARWATERS & at least 100 SOOTY SHEARWATERS viewed from Sea Life Mull tour vessel (Stuart Gibson et al).
TIREE: An evening seawatch from Milton, SE Tiree produced 27+ GREAT SHEARWATERS, 1 CORY’S SHEARWATER, 140+ SOOTY SHEARWATERS, an adult & an imm POMARINE SKUA. Also, a GREEN SANDPIPER was seen at The Reef (John Bowler).
COLL: At least 2 GREAT SHEARWATERS & 18 SOOTY SHEARWATERS were seen off N Coll (per Birdguides).
MULL: 29th Aug: an adult SABINE’S GULL was reported flying slowly past Caliach Point, NW Mull (per Birdguides).
28th August
OBAN to BARRA FERRY: Highlights of a seawatch inc 11 SOOTY SHEARWATERS in with c5000 Manx near south entrance to Gunna Sound. Also total of c50+ Storm Petrel and several Great & Arctic Skuas noted (Jim Dickson, Hayley Douglas, David Jardine, Neil Rankine).
27th August
MID-ARGYLL: A 1cy MEDITERRANEAN GULL was at the Head of Loch Gilp this morning (Jim Dickson). Of interest – the pair of Mute Swans with 3 cygnets that include 2 ‘Polish types’ are hanging around the loch – very few records of these types have ever been reported from the West of Scotland.
MULL: A 1cy MEDITERRANEAN GULL was also at Scallastle today (Theo de Clermont, Ewan Miles).
26th August
MULL: A BLACK REDSTART was reported at down from the Ben More pods towards the hatchery (Allan Cowan)
14th August
AT SEA: Tiree to Castlebay, Barra ferry – an immature POMARINE SKUA and 46 Storm Petrels (John Bowler).
5th July
MID-ARGYLL: An adult/2cy HOBBY was at Dalvore, Moine Mhor this pm (John Boyd).
4th July
MULL: A report of a CORY’S SHEARWATER at sea between Duart Point, Mull yesterday 3 July and the Isle of Lismore (Dr Paulo Bessa) and also a belated report of an adult GULL-BILLED TERN at Bunessan on 31 May – 3 June (John Smallman) and a first record for Mull.
1st July
COLL: A belated report of a HOBBY at Loch na Cloiche, SW of Arinagour on 25 June (Ben Jones, Greg Smith).
27th June
KINTYRE: A report of a fem-type GOLDEN ORIOLE 1 mile N of Grogport at Closeburn at 7am (Adam, Gull per Alasdair Paterson).
22nd June
MID-ARGYLL: At sea just south of Kerrera – a LEACH’S PETREL, also 3 Storm Petrel and an Arctic Skua between Colonsay and the Garvellach Is (David Jardine, Ian Fisher).
16th June
KINTYRE: A belated report received today of a female type COMMON ROSEFINCH at Gigalum, south Gigha on 31st May (Keith Helm).
MULL: An adult POMARINE SKUA was reported off Staffa (per Birdguides)
15th June
TIREE: A QUAIL calling early this morning (0230hrs) from a hay field at Greenhill during the Corncrake survey (John Bowler).
8th June
MID-ARGYLL/MULL: An immature (2cy) POMARINE SKUA was seen and photographed from the Oban to Craignure ferry this afternoon (Patrick Safford).
7th June
KINTYRE: A GREAT EGRET flew past the South Pier, Isle of Gigha at 1500hrs. Found by Tianna Salmeron.
30th May
NORTH ARGYLL: A POMARINE SKUA was seen in the Firth of Lorne east of Lismore (Stuart Gibson).
29th May
TIREE: The fem/2cy RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER is still present at Balephuil and a LESSER WHITETHROAT was seen and in song at The Glebe today (John Bowler).
ISLAY: A 2cy GLAUCOUS GULL was at Bridgend today (David Dinsley) and the 2cy AMERICAN WIGEON is still about at Cornabus (Ed Burrell).
KINTYRE: An adult male ROSY STARLING was found in a garden at Tayinloan today (Leigh Sarah Gilchrist).
28th May
MID-ARGYLL: A report of a NIGHTJAR seen just south of Kilberry at 08.30 am (Neil Brown).
TIREE: A fem/2cy RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER was new in at 17.00 pm at Balephuil (John Bowler).
26th May
TIREE: The MARSH WARBLER still present today at Balephuil and with further study now re-identified as a BLYTH’S REED WARBLER. Also a fem-type COMMON ROSEFINCH there today (John Bowler).
25th May
TIREE: MARSH WARBLER singing in the Balephuil garden today arrived on SE winds (quite showy at first but quickly found cover) – the 8th record for the island and the 6th record for the garden (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A TURTLE DOVE seen briefly in the Connell are (Frank Cavannagh).
24th May
COLONSAY: A BOHEMIAN WAXWING was seen today at Kiloran bunkhouse (David Jardine). Yesterday, 23rd – at sea off Colonsay – single POMARINE & ARCTIC SKUAS (Martin Benson).
KINTYRE: A EURASIAN HOBBY was seen at Lephenstrath Bridge south Kintyre just before 3pm (Ann & Noel Hand)